The internet is an integral part of most people’s lives. You can bank, shop, communicate, and search for information. The possibilities are endless. One concern you should have when using your personal information online is privacy. The last thing you want is your address, credit card number, banking information, or other personal information leaked to a hacker who will use the information for fraudulent purposes. Keep these five creative ways to keep your information private on the internet.
Avoid public wi-fi
It’s convenient to access the internet while you’re on-the-go, but skip banking or shopping when you’re on a public network. They’re less secure, and it’s beneficial to wait until you get to a secure network with anti-virus protection and a firewall to ensure your information only transmits to where you want it to go.
Watch your email
Companies are continually emailing marketing information, deals, and sales to encourage you to shop. Others want verification when you try to log in somewhere. Ensure that the email is from the actual company. Some hackers try to make emails look the same as a reputable company including branding, images, and links. If possible, go directly to the website to carry out your activities instead of clicking links in emails. Avoid opening attachments unless you know the sender. A simple file could exploit all the information on your computer.
Virtual credit card
The option to replace your actual credit card number with a temporary virtual card number can help keep your information secure, and if it falls into the wrong hands, the hacker doesn’t have access to your bank account or the card number itself.
Use a strong password
Keep your passwords strong. Hackers know common passwords. Use different passwords on each site to ensure that if there is a data breach, the rest of your data isn’t compromised as easily. A secure password uses a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Don’t use pet’s names, children’s names, birthdays, anniversaries, or other common information that anyone can figure out.
Private browsing
Use private browsing when surfing the internet. Private browsing differs from traditional browsing because the browser doesn’t store cookies, passwords, data, or usernames. If it’s not enabled, the information is saved and accessible at a later date.
Don’t make it easy for hackers to get your private data. Utilize these methods to stay safe while on the internet and eliminate the hassle of dealing with fraud.
If you own a business and have a website, then online data and security should be one of your top priorities for your business and your customers. If you are wondering how you can prioritize privacy and security when you build a website, contact our specialists today!
References:
3 Top Ways People Get Infected by an Email Virus | Make Use Of
What is a virtual credit card? | Divvy
Tips for Strong, Secure Passwords & Other Authentication Tools | Connect Safely
